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On March 30, 2017, it was broadcast on both Fukushima and nationwide NHK channels that Fukushima Prefecture has not reported thyroid cancer diagnosed in a boy who was age 4 at the time of the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. The case came to light when the 311 Fund for Children with Thyroid Cancerrevealed he was one of six applicants that received aid in February 2017. (Video of the statement in Japanese on this website. See the section "Thyroid cancer cases outside Fukushima Prefecture" on this post for more information on the 311 Fund for Children with Thyroid Cancer).

The TUE, commissioned by Fukushima Prefecture to Fukushima Medical University, is conducted through the fund provided by the central government. The primary examination is screening by ultrasound. Those meeting certain criteria go on to the confirmatory examination where the majority end up being placed back on the regular screening schedule every 2-5 years. However, some are shifted to r…

HighlightsIn this citizen-driven project, Pacific salmon cans from a U.S. seafood company, Vital Choice Wild Seafood and Organics, underwent radiation testing by citizen labs in Japan. Salmon cans before and after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident (2009, 2011, 2012, 2014) were analyzed for 4 radionuclides: Cesium-134, Cesium-137, Strontium-90 and Tritium.A very small amount of Cesium-137 was detected in all 4 samples, mostly due to background Cesium-137 ("legacy Cesium-137) from nuclear weapons testing.The 2011 sample canned in August 2011 had a slightly higher level of Cesium-137 than the other 3 samples, and the difference of about 0.02 Bq/kg m…

Highlights:One more case of suspected thyroid cancer was diagnosed by cytology since the last report.No additional surgeries since the last report: the number of confirmed cancer cases remains at 145 (101 in the first round and 44 in the second round)Total number of confirmed/suspected thyroid cancer diagnosed (excluding a single case of benign tumor) is 184 (115 in the first round and 69 in the second round)The second round screening data is still not final (confirmatory examination still ongoing).Thyroid Examination Evaluation Subcommittee will be convened in May or June 2017 to evaluate the results of the second round screening.On February 20, 2017, less than two months since the last report, the 26th Oversight Committee for Fukushima Health Management Survey convened in Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture. Among other information, the Oversight Committee released the latest results (as of December 31, 2016) of thesecond and third rounds of the Thyroid Ultrasound Examination (TUE)…